Caught in the ACT

by Peter Moore

Book Overview

Meet Ethan Lederer. He's got a great girlfriend, and he's in all honor classes. Life is almost normal until Lydia Krane shows up in chemistry class. She's not really Ethan's type-she's some variety of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670059900
• ISBN13: 9780670059904
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Viking Children's Books
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.7"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Unforgettable

I read this title almost two years ago, and I simply can't forget it. It must be the greatest books i've ever read. The plot is so interesting and the ending is such a twist it will leave your mouth hanging open. I first borrowed it from a library, but I'm definately interested in reading it AGAIN and will probably buy it eventually to add to my small but growing book collection. This books earns it place next to (but slightly below) Harry Potter and Twilight.

A Person to Remember

This book is full of activity and backstabbing. "Caught in the Act" is about a girl who is gothic, and moves to a new school. Her face is covered by her hair and she seems to always be writing in her green diary. Life is changed dramatically for the main character, Ethan. Ethan lies to his parents about his grades because they want him to be extremely smart, which he isn't. There are other things that he wants to do but feels pressured by his parents or that they would be disappointed of what he wants to do. The new girl, Lydia, seems to understand him and he feels he can tell her anything. She gets him to do things that he never thought of doing. He soon starts to realize that he is way over his head and trapped in the middle of past consciences and a girl who is out of control. This book is a very enjoyable book. It can be read in just three days without realizing it. I was so disappointed when I got to the end. I wasn't disappointed about what happened but that I was almost finished. I really enjoyed that the book kept moving and had hardly any standstills. "Caught in the Act" made me think about things in a different way and I know will make others look at life in a different way. "Caught in the Act" is a great book for seventh grade and above. I recommend this book to any one who likes constant moving and unexpected twists. If you want to read something different, this is the book for you. I enjoyed it and I know many more will.

Scary and well written

I've rented this book from the library. What a fantastic read. I actually put it down several times near the end because it was a little scary in a real sort of way. I thought I knew how the story was going to end but I was surprised by it; totally not what I thought would happen.

An engaging novel with a twisting storyline

High school sophomore Ethan Lederer is an honor student and all-around great guy. He has lots of friends and a girlfriend who all adore him. His parents think highly of him and hope that he will follow in their Ivy League and medical school footsteps. Ethan, however, is not as interested in science and math as his parents think. In fact, his near-perfect grades are threatened by his performance in chemistry class. Wanting to please his family, and the role they hope he will play, Ethan remains silent and lets them believe he is on track to medical school. The one thing that is truly important to Ethan, however, is neither science nor math, but the theatre. And then, Lydia Krane shows up one day in Ethan's chemistry class. There's something compelling about the new girl, with her changing accents and babydoll t-shirts. Plus, Lydia is different from Ethan's family and friends. She doesn't expect him to be something he's not, and they have something in common --- the love of the stage. Both Ethan and Lydia try out for the spring play, a modern-day reinterpretation of the Shakespearean classic, Macbeth. They get parts, and become closer friends. Ethan confides in Lydia what he can't confide in anyone else: "No matter how hard I try, I just won't ever be as smart as them, as good as them...I'm just really good at faking it...I'm doing it all the time, twenty-four/seven. Acting like I'm a good student, good son, good everything. Acting like it comes easy to me. But it's a real struggle. I feel like a total fraud half the time." As Ethan continues the facade of good student, he does the unthinkable. He cheats on a chemistry exam rather than risk getting a bad grade. His plan backfires when he gets caught, but then Lydia Krane intervenes, which in the end makes Ethan's situation worse. As Ethan lets Lydia into his life more and more, he notices that Lydia is changing and becoming more clingy and more obsessed with him. Ethan finds out more is at risk than his perfect image, and Lydia is not who he thought she was at all. CAUGHT IN THE ACT is an engaging novel with a twisting storyline. Author Peter Moore does a good job of letting us into Ethan's life and exploring, along with Ethan, who he really is. The character of Lydia Krane is both creepy and mesmerizing. We only hope for the best for good boy Ethan, to get himself out of the bad situations in which he gets captured. [...]

Final Curtain - Curtains For...

High school sophomore Ethan Lederer appears to have it all. He has a smart girlfriend named Janie; a solid interest in acting as well as talent and a flair for expression. Cracks appear in the surface in the forms of Ethan's brilliant older sister, Amanda and their overachieving parents who assume that he wants to be a doctor. Ethan is enrolled in the Honors' Program at his school and science is the one class that stands between him and a solid phalanx of As and A+s. Ethan's life takes a drastic turn for the wild side when transfer student Lydia arrives. She insidiously worms her way into Ethan's life; she comes between him and Janie; she blackmails the chemistry teacher so as to ensure Ethan's continued academic success after he gets caught cheating on an exam. Lydia's family is just as sinister and scary as she is. Her brother is described as a quasi-verbal criminal and their mother is clearly mentally ill. Ethan learns that Lydia has travelled all over the country, rarely remaining in one school for the duration of a year. Lydia is controlling and dangerous. She tries to indoctrinate Ethan in the idea that they will remain together forever; she tricks him into having her name tattooed onto his shoulder. Ethan soon becomes quite scared of the girl and tries avoiding her at all costs. He makes an attempt to end the relationship, such as it is, only to become the target of telephone harassment and a stalking charge. Ethan fears for his life and during the school production of "MacBeth," readers are left avidly awaiting to see the resolution before the Final Curtain.